北朝鮮核実験 脅威の深刻化に迅速対応せよ

The nuclear threat posed by North Korea has entered a new stage. The international community must unite and take all possible steps to maintain the peace and stability in Asia.
北朝鮮の核の脅威が新たな段階に入った。アジアの平和と安定の維持へ国際社会は結束し、手段を尽くすべきだ。

North Korea has conducted its fourth nuclear test. Via a news broadcast on Korean Central Television, Pyongyang announced that it had successfully tested “its first hydrogen bomb.” It also said that with the success, the country had “joined the advanced ranks of nuclear weapons states that possess even hydrogen bombs.”
北朝鮮が４回目の核実験を強行した。朝鮮中央テレビを通じて、「最初の水爆実験」に成功し、「水爆まで持つ核保有国の前列に立った」と発表した。

It was the second nuclear test conducted by the regime under its current leader, Kim Jong Un, following the one carried out in 2013.
金正恩政権では、２０１３年に続く２回目の核実験だ。

In May, the country is scheduled to hold a Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea for the first time in 36 years. Kim, the first secretary of the party, may have intended to demonstrate his clout both at home and abroad by achieving the possession of a “hydrogen bomb.”
今年５月には３６年ぶりの朝鮮労働党大会の開催を予定している。金第１書記は、「水爆」保有という実績を作り、国内外に威信を誇示したつもりなのか。

Outrageous act
◆アジア安定損なう暴挙

We can never tolerate such an outrageous act by North Korea, which violates a number of resolutions by the U.N. Security Council that impose sanctions and call for the country to refrain from conducting nuclear tests and to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
核実験の自制や核放棄を求める国連安全保障理事会の数々の制裁決議に違反する暴挙は、断じて容認することができない。

As the seismic energy observed following the test was smaller than that observed in the previous test, most experts are skeptical that the latest test was of a hydrogen bomb. Some experts have said that it may have been a test of a “boosted fission bomb.” To begin with, it is uncertain whether the test was successful or not.
観測された地震のエネルギーが前回より小さいことなどから、専門家の間では、水爆実験に否定的な見方が強い。「ブースト型（強化型）原爆」ではないか、との指摘も出ている。そもそも実験が成功したかどうかも不明だ。

Even so, it is worrisome that a series of nuclear tests makes it more likely that the country will be able to develop smaller and more powerful nuclear weapons.
懸念されるのは、核実験を重ねることで、核兵器の小型化や高性能化が進むことだ。

North Korea is said to have deployed a large number of Rodong ballistic missiles that can reach Japan. Should North Korea become able to mount nuclear warheads on such missiles, Japan’s security environment will dramatically deteriorate.
北朝鮮は、日本を射程に収める弾道ミサイル・ノドンを大量に実戦配備しているとされる。核弾頭の搭載が可能になれば、日本の安全保障環境は劇的に悪化する。

It is only reasonable for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to have said that the latest nuclear test is a “serious threat to the security of our nation,” adding, “I strongly condemn this.”
安倍首相が「わが国の安全に対する重大な脅威で、強く非難する」と表明したのは当然である。

The Kim regime has been trying to improve the country’s relations with China recently.
金政権は最近、中国との関係改善を図っていた。

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, who ranks fifth in the party hierarchy, took part in a commemorative event held in October to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party. Liu urged North Korea to refrain from conducting such acts as a nuclear test.
昨年１０月の朝鮮労働党創建７０年記念行事には、中国共産党序列５位の劉雲山政治局常務委員が参列し、核実験などの自制を働きかけた。

Kim hinted in December that his country “possesses a hydrogen bomb.” But he made no reference to “nuclear” in his New Year’s address.
金第１書記は昨年１２月に「水爆保有」を示唆したが、年頭演説では「核」に言及しなかった。

As North Korea did not give advance notice either to China or to the United States this time and there were hardly any indications that such a test was imminent, the latest test was a complete surprise. Making any rational predictions regarding the Kim regime has become ever more difficult.
今回の核実験は、米中への事前の通告がなかったうえ、兆候もほとんど確認できず、寝耳に水だった。金政権に関する合理的予測が一層難しくなったと言えよう。

Pass resolution
◆日米は制裁決議に動け

North Korea’s latest move may be an indication that Kim, who is trying to maintain his clout with a “reign of terror” by purging senior members of the ruling party one after another, is increasingly acting arbitrarily on his own authority.
幹部を相次いで粛清する「恐怖政治」で権力維持を図る金第１書記が、独断専行に拍車をかけていることが一因ではないか。

The latest statement asserted that North Korea would not suspend or abandon its development of nuclear weapons “unless the United States has rolled back its hostile policy toward [North Korea].” Some perceive the latest nuclear test as having been aimed at resuming dialogue with the United States.
北朝鮮は声明で「米国の敵視政策が根絶されない限り、核開発の中断や放棄はない」と主張した。核実験は、米国との対話の再開を目指したものとの観測もある。

In October, however, U.S. President Barack Obama clearly stated that his administration would respond to North Korean nuclear testing with reinforced sanctions. North Korea’s latest move will only serve to internationally isolate the country even further.
だが、オバマ米大統領は昨年１０月、核実験には制裁強化で応える方針を明確にしている。北朝鮮は国際的孤立を深めるだけだ。

The U.N. Security Council is set to convene an emergency session and discuss how to deal with the latest nuclear test. It is important to adopt a resolution to effectively strengthen sanctions on North Korea as soon as possible, thereby clarifying the council’s resolve to press the country to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
国連安保理は緊急会合で、核実験への対応を協議する。実効性ある制裁強化の決議を早期に採択し、北朝鮮に核放棄を迫る意思を明確に打ち出すことが重要だ。

The latest provocation comes as Japan regained a nonpermanent seat on the security council this month. Japan should join hands with the United States and other pertinent countries to become proactively involved in adopting a sanctions resolution against North Korea.
日本は今月、安保理の非常任理事国に復帰したばかりだ。米国などと連携し、制裁決議の採択に積極的に関与するべきだ。

The government has convened a meeting of four relevant Cabinet members of the National Security Council. They have analyzed information about North Korea’s action and discussed ways to deal with the situation. The government is considering the idea of reinstating some of the sanctions it lifted in July 2014, including one aimed at basically banning North Koreans from entering Japan.
政府は国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開いて、情報を分析し、今後の対応を協議した。１４年７月に解除した北朝鮮籍者の入国の原則禁止など、一部の制裁の復活を検討している。

North Korea has also continued to put off reporting to Japan the results of its renewed investigation into the fate of Japanese nationals abducted by that country. We believe the government must take stern action against North Korea.
北朝鮮は、日本人拉致被害者の再調査の報告についても先送りし続けている。政府は、厳しい措置を取らねばなるまい。

It is important for the government to persistently seek action from North Korea while adhering to the fundamental principle regarding efforts to comprehensively resolve issues related to that nation, including the abduction problem and its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.
拉致と核・ミサイル問題を包括的に解決する基本方針を堅持しながら、粘り強く働きかけを続ける必要がある。

It is also important to increase cooperative ties between the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces, based on the Japan-U.S. alliance. The security-related laws established in autumn last year have made it possible for our nation to take such measures as defending U.S. vessels engaged in keeping guard against any attempt to launch a ballistic missile. Efforts should be made to expand joint Japan-U.S. vigilance and surveillance activities in areas surrounding Japan, thereby increasing deterrence.
日米同盟に基づく自衛隊と米軍の連携を強化することも大切だ。昨秋成立した安全保障関連法で、弾道ミサイル発射を警戒中の米艦の防護などが可能になった。日本周辺での日米共同の警戒監視活動を拡充し、抑止力を高めたい。

It is also indispensable to facilitate close cooperation with South Korea. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has emphasized the importance of forcing North Korea to “pay the right price” for its latest provocation.
韓国との緊密な協調も欠かせない。朴槿恵大統領は、北朝鮮に「相当する対価を払わせなければならない」と力説した。

China pressure vital
◆中国の「圧力」がカギだ

Late last year, the Japanese and South Korean governments reached a deal on the issue of so-called comfort women. The momentum generated for improving Japan-South Korea relations should be efficiently used to deepen bilateral cooperation.
日韓両政府は昨年末、慰安婦問題で合意した。関係改善の機運を生かし、協力を深めるべきだ。

The key to dealing with North Korea from the standpoint of increased pressure on that country is China.
北朝鮮への圧力を強める観点でカギとなるのは、中国である。

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed “resolute opposition” to North Korea’s nuclear test, urging Pyongyang to honor its pledge of denuclearization.
中国外務省は核実験に「断固とした反対」を表明し、北朝鮮に非核化の約束を守るよう促した。

China was previously hesitant to impose tough sanctions that could destabilize the North Korean regime, despite championing efforts to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. There is no doubt that China’s lenient stance has allowed North Korea to develop nuclear weapons.
中国は従来、「朝鮮半島の非核化」を掲げながらも、北朝鮮の体制の不安定化につながるような厳しい制裁には及び腰だった。その甘い姿勢が北朝鮮の核開発を許してきたのは間違いない。

North Korea relies on China for most of its petroleum. North Koreans cannot live without commodities from China.
北朝鮮は、石油の大半を中国に依存する。国民生活も中国からの物資なしには成り立たない。

This is at last the time when the administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which can make or break North Korea, must go all out to exert pressure on Pyongyang, thereby forcing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
北朝鮮の命脈を握る習近平政権は、今度こそ、核放棄への圧力に本腰を入れなければならない。